1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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8
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in chasing
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
When his second-in-command finds love and wants to get out of the criminal life, things get bad for Tee Yai, but when a newly motivated policeman dedicates himself to catching him no matter what the cost, things get really wild.
—PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
In all of them, Redford does much of his own riding, wing walking, throwing, catching, and hitting.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Bandy filled a key role last week in his first gameday activation since being signed by the Broncos in 2023, catching one 16-yard pass and returning four punts against the Texans.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
When his second-in-command finds love and wants to get out of the criminal life, things get bad for Tee Yai, but when a newly motivated policeman dedicates himself to catching him no matter what the cost, things get really wild.
—PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
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For her part, BunnaB, beloved for her infectious, near-constant laughs, has separated herself from this ascendant pack by infusing her bubbly disposition, girl’s girl attitude, unfettered authenticity — and the unmistakable gravity of earning a second shot.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
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He will be sorely missed by his many, many friends who grew to love his charm, his wit, his infectious laugh and his innate sense of style.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 5-11 200-pound standout has accumulated mind-boggling stats through nine games -- 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDs while grabbing a team-leading 42 passes for 974 yards and 18 scores.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
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Nikola Jokic put up 26 points on 12 of 15 shooting, while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing nine rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Big Ten pushed for a model that would have each power conference receive multiple automatic bids, with the Big Ten and SEC each receiving four and the ACC and Big 12 each getting two.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
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And the back part of that is that the most fun is getting to act opposite people who are incredibly good, which is true for this cast.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Federal judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Administration from enforcing the policy against Orr and six other individual plaintiffs in April.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
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Now, a passenger aircraft that can complete make the journey without stopping is in the final stages of construction, Qantas announced on Friday, releasing first images of the plane as it is assembled.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Lawrence sought out Ramsay to adapt the book after securing the rights, with the hopes that her collaborator would both push her out of comfort zones and leave the story’s rough edges intact.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
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No Man’s Land is Kuzmina’s second feature after Nika, which had a buzzy premiere at SXSW 2022 in the Narrative Feature Competition, securing Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Deputy Jaramillo’s legacy of integrity, compassion, and courage will continue to live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Imagine me at lunch or dinner breaks on that movie, sitting between the two of them—Peyton and Bradley—knowing little to nothing about football.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Growing tulips indoors in pots uses a technique called forcing—tricking the bulb and plant into blooming.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
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How to protect yourself from AI phishing scams AI phishing scams rely on tricking people into trusting what looks and sounds real.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What should people do when encountering moose?—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the meantime, more essential services the government provides run the risk of running out of money, seeing staffing shortages and encountering other problems due to the lapse in funding.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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